Nathan Forrest hopes Saturday’s date on Valentine Fight Night will be the prelude to something Grand.
The unbeaten 25-year-old takes on Scotland’s Donnie McInnes over six rounds on the Shamrock Promotions event at the Walker Dome, where Travis Waters tops the bill against Jose Aguirre.
Forrest is already the Northern Area lightweight champion, courtesy of an explosive third-round stoppage victory over the previously undefeated Kai Richmond at Houghton-le-Spring.
But coach Neil Fannan is looking to spread the wings of the Bishop Auckland boxer after throwing his hat in the ring, if you forgive the pun, for the WBC Grand Prix of Boxing.
They have applied to be a part of the exciting concept announced by the WBC’s Mauricio Sulaiman and Turki Alalshikh, the man of the moment in boxing.
The Grand Prix is a global tournament featuring 128 prospects across four weight classes, and was a dream of Mauricio’s late father, Jose, the former WBC head.
Featherweight, light-welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight will be the four weight divisions, with Forrest aiming to be one of the 32 at light-welter or super-lightweight or junior-welter, whatever is your cup of tea.
Entrants can be no older than 26 and have no more than 10 fights to their name.
At 25 and with a record of 8-0, Nathan ticks the required boxes. The opening bouts will be over eight rounds with the final over 10 and Forrest told punch-lines that the longer the contest the better he will perform.
“People have probably only seen 20 seconds of what I’m actually capable of,” said Forrest, referring to the way he took out Richmond in their Bishop Aucklland v Spennymoor derby.
“When we’ve got an opponent who will try to win then you will see the best of Nathan Forrest.
“I’d love to do an eight rounder. The longer distances will suit me better because I don’t fade – I’ve got a good engine.
“I’m a box-fighter, I like to counter on the front foot then get stuck in and try to take my opportunities.”
That tremendous finish by the Co Durham boxer was the second stoppage success of his career and explained that the measured approach so far has all been part of the plan.
“To be fair, Fano has kept me on the leash a bit, so we weren’t exposing everything I was going to do,” he said.
“I probably wasn’t at my best against Kai and it took me a couple of rounds to find my feet and then stopped it in the third in good fashion.”
Saturday night’s bout against the experienced Scot is only Nathan’s second since his title triumph at the Rainton Arena last March.
He was set to box in December, only for the show to get pulled.
So his most ‘recent’ appearance came in the Summer Rumble in July, when he outpointed the wily Cristian Narvaez in four rounds, though there was a confusing ending because the home corner thought the fight was over six.
“There must have been a problem with the paperwork or something,” said Forrest. “I was just getting warmed up, and I was definitely hurting him to the body.
“I’m not saying I would have stopped him, but I think I’d have put him down.
“But it is what it is, I’ve ticked over and waited for a date and it’s here. I’m raring to go.”
Hopefully, there will be more exciting news to come.
First, it’s Forrest v McInnes, part of a 10-fight event at the Newcastle venue.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
